A man who killed a mother of two before setting her on fire in a Virginia home has been convicted of first-degree murder and arson.

In August 2022, Richard Montano, 48, murdered Silvia “Kelly” Vaca Abacay, 40, believing she was his ex-girlfriend.

Montano had been lying in wait for his ex to return to her Fairfax home, but he ended up killing one of her friends, Abacay, who had also been staying at the apartment instead.

Montano – who now faces a life sentence – stabbed her before setting her body on fire to cover up the murder.

Abacay, who was married with two children, a 14-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old son, was visiting from Bolivia and staying at the home of Montano’s ex, Fatima Via Rojas.

Silvia “Kelly” Vaca Abacay, 40, was killed due to mistaken identity

Richard Montano, 48, has been found guilty of first-degree murder and arson in the killing of Silvia “Kelly” Vaca Abacay, a 40-year-old mother of two

The trial included evidence showing that Montano entered the apartment that afternoon as he prepared to kill Rojas, his ex-girlfriend, after their eight-year relationship ended.

Ring camera footage from a neighbor’s home showed Montano entering her apartment without her knowledge several times over the past month.

He had last been in the house ten days before the murder.

When a neighbor across the hall heard screaming and banging, they called 911 four times that fateful afternoon.

During the trial, jurors could hear Abacay’s scream echoing in the 911 call.

‘He literally went for the jugular. Listen to the pain and fear in Silvia’s voice as she screams for her life,” prosecutors said during the trial. NBCWashington.

“The screaming and banging continued for 15 minutes as Silvia Abacay suffered a violent attack that left Apartment 101 in carnage.”

One detective testified that the attack was so violent that bloodstains ran down the walls.

When emergency services arrived, officers saw smoke coming from the apartment.

Montano was caught ten times before the murder by a doorbell camera visiting the apartment

Neighbors heard banging and screaming as Abacay was brutally beaten and stabbed

Inside, they found Abacay on fire and with multiple stab wounds to her upper body.

‘He set a body on fire to cover up a gruesome murder. A gruesome murder of the wrong person. He killed the wrong person and now he has to cover his tracksprosecutors said during the trial.

First responders extinguished the fire and attempted life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Medical examiners found that Abacay had been stabbed at least ten times in her face, head and neck and then died from multiple “sharp and blunt force wounds” sustained before being set on fire.

Montano fled out a back window and returned to his home in Arlington, Virginia, where he was arrested later that day.

Abacay was found on fire and with multiple stab wounds to her upper body

Prosecutors believe Montano mistakenly believed Abacay was his ex-girlfriend when he killed her, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said.

“As a Commonwealth’s Attorney, I have seen significant crime scenes and photographs, but the photographs from this case stood out in terms of the injuries suffered by the victims,” Descano said. “This case contained some of the most disturbing crime scenes I have ever encountered.

“The body was so burned that the medical examiner couldn’t even accurately count how many wounds Sylvia had. That is the level of violence we saw in this case,” Descano said.

The jury deliberated for just three hours Thursday before returning a guilty verdict.

‘Nothing will bring Sylvia back. She has a husband and two teenage children. There will always be pain for them, but I hope this will put them somewhat on the path to healing,” Descano said.

Abacay had been stabbed at least ten times in the face, head and neck and subsequently died from multiple “sharp and blunt force wounds” she suffered before being set on fire.

Abacay’s friends describe her as a wonderful friend, mother and person who was always the life of the party

“While we cannot bring Silvia back, we can ensure that Montano does not pose any further threats to the public,” he added.

Abacay’s friends describe her as a wonderful friend, mother and person who was always the life of the party. a GoFundMe was founded to help her children in the short term.

“Kelly was kind and full of joy, and was always ready to help others,” her friend Jose Luis Landivar said in the GoFundMe post. “She was loved by so many and will be deeply missed. Her family and friends are heartbroken by their loss.”

“I was in shock, I couldn’t believe it,” said Yerin Ronero, Abacay’s friend Fox 5. ‘I just couldn’t believe it. The person who did it is a friend of ours. We have known each other for a long time. It’s just shocking.’

Montano now faces up to life in prison at his sentencing in January 2024.